Page 229 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

Deer Mushroom, Pluteus

cervinus (PLUTEACEAE)

DEER MUSHROOM is a brown mushroom with close sent with 2-5 short prongs at the apex; Spore print:
gills that grow free of the stem. It fruits exclusively brownish pink
on wood, including decaying logs and sawdust, of- EDIBLE PARTS: cap, stem
ten favoring hardwood trees. Widely distributed and
KEY MEDICINAL USES: This fungus has shown evi-
common, it appears alone or in groups during the
dence of antitumor effects.
spring and autumn.
HOW TO EAT: The deer mushroom’s tender flesh is
CAP: The cap is 2-5.5 inches (5-14cm) across. Begin-
pleasant-tasting when firm. However, it spoils easi-
ning convex, it matures to a broadly convex or flat-
ly, especially in warmer temperatures. Refrigerate as
tened shape, sometimes with a low, rounded hump
soon as you can. While young mushrooms may have
at the center. The cap’s color is dark to drab brown,
slightly attached gills, harvest only free-gilled speci-
occasionally with whitish margins. The surface may
mens as a precaution.
be wrinkled in young mushrooms, becoming smooth
ROASTED DEAR MUSHROOMS WITH HAZELNUTS:
or minutely hairy with radial streaks. It turns slightly
Ingredients: 8 oz. (230g) mushrooms (sliced), 4 tbsp.
viscid when wet, drying quickly. Occasionally, the soft
butter (cubed), 2 tbsp. chives (chopped), salt, pepper,
white flesh has a radish-like scent.
½ cup chopped hazelnuts (fire-toasted). On a sheet of
GILLS: The broad gills are white, becoming flesh pink
foil, place mushrooms, butter, chives, salt pepper. Fold
with age. Growing close or crowded, they are notably
edges over securely, forming an envelope. Roast near a
free from the stem.
fire for 15 min. Toss in a bowl with hazelnuts.
STEM: Measuring 2-5 inches (5-13cm) long and 0.2-
POISONOUS LOOK-ALIKES: Entoloma spp. - grows
0.6 inches (5-15mm) thick, the stem is nearly equal or
from the ground; gills are attached to the stem and
enlarging at the base. It is firm, dry and white, often
often notched. Amanita spp. - Stem with membra-
with fine brownish hairs. nous ring, or volva, or both. Cap easily separates from
SPORES: 5.5-8 x 4-6 µ, elliptical, smooth; Cystidia pre- the stalk.
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